Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes of the Twenty-Second Meeting of Monday, December 10, 2018.

B. Approval of Minutes of the Work Session on January 2, 2019.

3. Report of the Mayor and City Council

A. Reporting on various community events, meetings and announcements.

4. Mayoral Appointments/Reappointments

A. Mayoral appointment of Council President Smalls to the Planning Commission, Councilmember Leszcz to the Historic District Commission, Councilmember Sydnor to the Public Safety and Transportation Committee, Councilmember Nicholas to the Tree Board and Councilmember DeWalt to the Environmental Affairs Committee

A. Members of the public are asked to sign the speakers list at the back of the Council Chambers. Council President calls the speakers from the sign in sheet. Each speaker is asked to give their name and address for the record. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to speak

A. Introduction and first public hearing on Ordinance No. 1935, Text Amendment No. 249, an ordinance to amend the Laurel Unified Land Development Code; Chapter 20 Land Development and Subdivision, Article I Zoning, Division 7 Signs and Advertising Structures, Section 2--17.2, Section 20-17.3, Section 20-17.5, Section 20-18.2 and Section 20-18.3 of the City's Zoning Code to allow for existing billboards to be converted to digital billboards; and providing an effective date.

B. Introduction and first public hearing on Ordinance No. 1936, an ordinance to amend the Laurel City Code, Chapter 2, "Administration," Article IV, "Public Ethics," Sections 2-52, 2-54, and 2-57, to allow for certain technical changes, to expand the list of those who may be subject to financial disclosure requirements, to change the manner of providing legal counsel to the Ethics Commission, to expand the list of those who must file a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement with the Ethics Commissiona nd providing an effective date.

C. Introduction and first public hearing on Ordinance No. 1937, an ordinance to amend the Laurel City Code, Chapter 6, "Campaigning and Campaign Financing," Sections 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and 6-5, and Article II, Campaigning and Campaign Financing," Section 6-30, 6-31, 6-32, 6-33, 6-35 and 6-36; to allow for certain technical Changes, and changes regarding the provision and distribution of information in connection with candidacies, information to be provided on a Certificate of Candidacy, Financial Disclosure Statements to be filed in connection with a Certificate of Candidacy, the filing fee for a Certificate of Candidacy, the manner of filing a Certificate of Candidacy, the late filing fee for the report or statement of contributions and disbursements, those individuals authorized to remove a non-compliant election sign, and the requirement that all candidates be fully qualified registered voters in Prince George's County, Maryland; and providing an effective date.

D. Introduction and first public hearing on Resolution No. 1-19, a resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel authorizing and approving the participation of the City in potential litigation in the State of Maryland aginst those responsible for the opioid addition problem in and around the City of Laurel, and authorizing the employment of legal counsel to represent the City in this litigation.

Minutes

Twenty-Third Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Meeting - Regular - Monday, January 14, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with President Smalls presiding.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Mayor Moe.

Clerk Rau called the roll.

The minutes of the Twenty-Second Meeting of Monday, December 10, 2018, were approved on motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt.

The minutes of the Work Session on January 2, 2019, were approved on motion by Councilmember Nicholas, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt.

Report of the Mayor and City Council:

Councilmember DeWalt reminded residents that January 9, 2019, was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

Councilmember DeWalt commented on the condition of several of the alleys in the City and suggested dumping stone or gravel into the holes to help improve the situation.

Councilmember Sydnor announced that County Executive Alsobrooks is working to assist those federal workers affected by the government shut-down with assistance for Baltimore Gas & Electric, etc., and directed them to the County Executive's website.

Councilmember Sydnor thanked the Mayor and his Administration for the assistance in preparing for and implementing the STEM Workshop. The event was very successful with 17 kids participating. Future events will be scheduled.

Councilmember Leszcz noted that the Farmer's Almanac was correct predicting the recent snow event. While riding around town he saw some people shoveling who shouldn't be and encouraged residents to help their elderly neighbors.

7th Annual College Retention and Social for First Generation College Bound was held on Sunday, January 13, 2019. President Smalls said it is always a pleasure to see the number of young people who are college students or recent graduated.

Inauguration of Governor Hogan is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16, 2019. President Smalls had the pleasure of working on the Inauguration Committee planning this event.

City Offices closed on Monday, January 21, 2019, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. A "Day of Service" has been scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Laurel Municipal Center.

2nd Annual Health Fair on Sunday, January 27, 2019, at the Laurel Armory from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Mayor Moe read Proclamation 2019-01, SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK, into the record proclaiming the week of January 20-26, 2019, encouraging all Laurel citizens to recognize and reaffirm the importance of effective educational options.

On motion by Councilmember Leszcz, seconded by Councilmember Nicholas, the mayoral appointment of the Council assignments of Council President Smalls, Planning Commission; Councilmember Leszcz, Historic District Commission; Councilmember Sydnor, Public Safety and Transportation Committee; Councilmember Nicholas, Tree Board; Councilmember DeWalt, Environmental Affairs Committee, were approved on a unanimous roll call vote.

President Smalls opened the General Public Hearing at 7:24 p.m.

Amy Knox, 606 Prince George Street, walks her dog every morning and almost always pass through Emancipation Park. She noticed there was some work being done in the par and McCullough Field. She said the heavy equipment has done some damage to the field and is wondering what the plan is to address the damage.

Jeff McBride, 807 Greenhill Avenue, has been a resident for eighteen years. He said people speed down his street driving 50 and 60 miles per hour, and he wants the problem addressed before someone gets hurt.

Zachary Darnell, thanked the Mayor and City Council for their service to the community. He expressed his appreciation for his mother, Mary Darnell, saying this is the first time he has seen her work. Mary Darnell is one of the City's hearing interpreters.

Christy Fang, City Engineer, presented the bid recommendation to award Street Improvement Project LA 19-01, as outlined in a memorandum dated December 11, 2018. On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember Leszcz, with Councilmember DeWalt, ABSTAINING, the contracted was awarded on a roll call vote.

Kevin Frost, Director of Information Technology, presented the recommendation to purchase Energov Software, as outlined in a memorandum dated December 19, 2018. On motion by Councilmember Nicholas, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt, the purchase was approved on a unanimous roll call vote.

President Smalls read the title of Ordinance No. 1935, Text Amendment No. 249, an ordinance to amend the Laurel Unified Land Development Code; Chapter 20 Land Development and Subdivision, Article I Zoning, Division 7 Signs and Advertising Structures, Section 2--17.2, Section 20-17.3, Section 20-17.5, Section 20-18.2 and Section 20-18.3 of the City's Zoning Code to allow for existing billboards to be converted to digital billboards; and providing an effective date, into the record for the first reading. The public hearing was opened at 7:37 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak. A second public hearing with possible action is scheduled for the Mayor and City Council Meeting on Monday, January 28, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.

President Smalls read the title of Ordinance No. 1936, an ordinance to amend the Laurel City Code, Chapter 2, "Administration," Article IV, "Public Ethics," Sections 2-52, 2-54, and 2-57, to allow for certain technical changes, to expand the list of those who may be subject to financial disclosure requirements, to change the manner of providing legal counsel to the Ethics Commission, to expand the list of those who must file a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement with the Ethics Commission and providing an effective date, into the record for the first reading.

President Smalls read the title of Ordinance No. 1937, an ordinance to amend an ordinance to amend the Laurel City Code Chapter 6, "Campaigning and Campaign Financing," Sections 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and 6-5, and Article II, Campaigning and Campaign Financing," Sections 6-30, 6-31, 6-32, 6-33, 6-35 and 6-36; to allow for certain technical changes, and changes regarding the provision and distribution of information in connection with candidacies, information to be provided on a Certificate of Candidacy, Financial Disclosure Statements to be filed in connection with a Certificate of Candidacy, the filing fee for a Certificate of Candidacy, the manner of filing a Certificate of Candidacy, the late filing fee for a report or statement of contributions and disbursements, those individuals authorized to remove a non-compliant election sign, and the requirement that all candidates be fully qualified registered voters in Prince George's County, Maryland; and providing an effective date, into the record for the first reading. The public hearing was opened at 7:41 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak. A second public hearing with possible action is scheduled for the Mayor and City Council Meeting on Monday, January 28, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.

President Smalls read the title of Resolution No. 1-19, a resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel authorizing and approving the participation of the City in potential litigation in the State of Maryland against those responsible for the opioid addition problem in and around the City of Laurel, and authorizing the employment of legal counsel to represent the City in this litigation, into the record for the first reading. The public hearing was opened at 7:42 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak. A second public hearing with possible action is scheduled for the Mayor and City Council Meeting on Monday, January 28, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.

There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Council the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.